New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-04
III.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
Next to the coast defence which Administra
ton influence opposed, may be considered the
conduct of Secretary Whitneys department.
Within week after Mr. Whitney came into Office
the Dolphin had her trial. the only one required
by law The Secretary seized the opportunity to
bankrupt and to hunt into his grave the only ship
builder in the United States who had built up
works in which he could make his own steel for
the ai1ming of the vessels required in modern
warfare.
TREATMENT OF Az HONEST sItIPDUILDER.
John Roach. born in Ireland, emigratcd in 1922;
built 90 per cent OF all iron vessels sailing under
American flag; had for years employed at Morgan
works 1131 men, and at Chester works ,33I men,
and in five years. from 1872 to 1876, had paid wages
amounting to s7,oG9734, and consumed materials
amounting TO S7,6l0,4l3. In nine years, from 1876
to 1885, built GO steamers, contract price S19345OOO
had built his plant that could make himself mater
als which Others were obliged TO purchase or import
Hence could underbid rivals in construction ships
for Navy, and at bidding July @ 1883, his bids
So 10000 for four vessels. the aggregate next lowest
bids being S2;675, 600, and estimated cost OF four
vessels by naval advisory board 50 ,o1AOOO. One
of these vessels the Dolphin, for which contract
was dated July %. 1883. Vessel built under act OF
1882 creating advisory board. and 1853 appropratlng
for vessels to be built under direction OF board.
Dolphin constructed plans and specifications
adopted by Department, under Government super
vision at every step: contract Congressional Record"
June 90, 1856, p G,3OD requiring
stipulated speed, bat construction accord
ing to Government plans Of best
materials and workmanship TO tho satisfaction Of the
advisory board. 1t provided that horsepower shall
be $500 maintained for six hours. but vessel "shall
be accepted" II shown TO satisfaction naval advisory
board and Secretary that failure due neither TO de-
fectivc workmanship materials.
SUCCESS OF TIE DOLPHIN.
Trial March 10 satisfied advisory board, which re-
ported average speed 1915 knots per hour and H. F.
2116. stating that deficiency not due to defective
workmanship or materials, but that with better coal
and well trained engineer fvrce these results would
90 exceeded: board recommended vessel accepted.
Whitney wrote TO Roach that Dolphin did not on trial
trip show $500 II. p, but board expressed favor
able opinion suggests another trial "boGre exercising
great responsibility of accepting" Roach claimed
under law decision BY Secretary whether contract
performed or not. Whitney then selected. without
authority Of law, new boari composed OF three
persons obviously likely TO condemn tho vessel.
BOARD PICKED TO CONDEMN.
Captain Belknap. anxious to be Commodore. was
promoted by Whtneys orders, Juno ., and reported
against Dolphin, June -. Commander Evans, relieved
rom duty by Secretary Chandler. had bitter gridge
to satisfy by condemning Chambers contract Her
| man WINTER, superintendent steamship company Of
which Whitney's brother n-iaw Is manager was idcn-
tilted with rival shipbuilders Cramp Sons: was also
inventor OF power windlass haw>e pire stopper and
steering machinery and his patents not used by
Roach; accordingly In report condemns Dolphin for
ueectS III steam wihdiass, hawse pipe shoppers and
Steering gear. Whitney knew that Behnap depended
on his favor for promotion that Evans hated Chandler
with Intense hatred and that Winter was Interested
with rivals and in patents Roach had not used. This
board, so likely to deal unfairly and created without
authority OF law, ROnch justly dstrusted But
whitney without law refused to pay $50, oOI apprj
prated by act March 3, 1885, to Roach by name nd
aiso refused other large sums, threatening Roach's
credit. Also pretended in letter, May GO that he
would not insist upon Is knots at sea; n speed OF
IL knots will answer" trial "upon such day rs Won
may name" These trials were had and the reDorts
OF his own picked board were decisive In favor Of
the vessel that for year Whitney suppressed them
until they were brought to light by resolution Of
senate, and are found Congressional Record" June
-, 1856 p. G,3o5 Belkndp's telegram of May %
reports OF first trial "average speed 10 I-e knots
10 being desired, speed for two hours 1879 knots
II he reported second me W trial Pat at
knots will answer the conditions that average speed
was ~ 3D. hno's' ran for six consecutive hours with
for nearly year by Secretary gave no intimation Of
structural weakness, failure Of speed or other de,
yesterdays trial wholly vaucless" though fopored
speed was greater than he had promised % ask: at
1
mad agreed IT should take place upon such day as
| Roach might name; "rcquire such tests as Won NAV
deem necessary" to determine whether she Is stuct-
uIalIy weak or not" unless you prefer to make
To this plain intmati0n that IL ought be prepared
To report what the Secretary wanted To hear the
picked board, although 1t had tclegrapbed speed of
over IS knots had been obtained, reported that the
Dolphin did not make Is knots per hour and lacked
the requisite strength and stiffness. Upon this re-
port whitney submitted TO Attorney General Garland
the statement that the Dolphin had not reached 10
Knots, and had shown great structural weakness
LAWLESS LEGAL OPINION.
On this false statement OF facts Attorney General
Garland rendered false statement law that vessel
should be rejected for lacking strength and for lacking
speed, and that there was "no valid contract at all
between Mr.. Roach and the United States" That this
was false Mr. Whitney proved for he used the opinion
only long enough to destroy Roach's credit md
Roach himself by publishing it, July 10, IT, l. but
uhen acted on the contract Garland had held not,
wand IL there were no contract, bondsmen werc
released and Government had no lien ON sbins. mn
court, whitney knew, would sustain so foolish n,
posiuon Roach said: "Undor Garapd,s oninior
Government never Will be able to mako n contract
WIN private citizen" '55, July Ia, H. A. Secretary
Chandler reviewed it. showed law required use Gov
ernment designs, and no builder could be asked mr.
would consent TO guarantee that those designs would
Weld the speed Government desired; hence contract
had contained no requirement as 10 speed nor even
Indicated horse power design faithfully cxecutod
Wild proper materials 70 acceptance advisory board
legal opinion forced Roach into bankruptcy july 90
I. o, and then public indignation rose 80 high Vbt.
ney abandoned all prctence Of attaching weight TO
feitcd. Aug q, w. f. proposing new contract, for com
piet0n other vessels, Aug. is, g. Schedule asset